Warwickshire News Mine

Getting it right is the focus of Mencap’s Learning Disability Week from 21-27 June 2010.
Mencap research shows that people with a learning disability experience poorer health and poorer access to healthcare than the general population. NHS Warwickshire and the County Council have taken action by setting up a dedicated Health Access Team to support people with a learning disability to access health care. The Health Access Team works closely with people with learning disabilities, their carers and health and social care professionals and is currently helping GPs to deliver health checks to those with learning disabilities.
The Health Access Team is looking for people with learning disabilities and their carers to help support this work through ‘Good Health’ groups in the North and South of the county. The groups will give their views on health services and how they can be improved as well as working on initiatives which will help encourage health living amongst those with learning disabilities. Those interested in taking part should contact Pauline Ainsbury on 02476 967897.
The County Council and the Learning Disability Partnership Board are also marking Learning Disability Week from 21-27 June with events around the county to highlight services and support.
Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care, Cllr Izzi Seccombe, says: "People with learning disabilities have very specific and individual needs.  No agency can deliver everything on its own.  The close relationship and dialogue has to be in the very best interests of people with learning disabilities, their families and their carers."
Sally Eason, Associate Director of Joint Commissioning for NHS Warwickshire, says: “Supporting people with learning disabilities to access healthcare is vitally important and can’t be done in isolation. We need the help of patients and carers as well as our partners to make sure that healthcare meets the needs of those with learning disabilities.”
If you or someone you care for has a learning disability, or if you would simply like to find out more please come to one of the events, visit the website http://warwickshire.ldpb.info or telephone the Learning Disability Partnership Board Office on 01926 430492.

Link to WCC